Make a weekend of it

Cool, funky flea
Live and experience the magic of flea markets with some cool, funky and quirky stuff. LikeThatOnly is hosting Flea by Nite this Sunday where a host of offbeat artistes and designers blend fashion, art, music and style to create an unforgettable shopping experience. The evening promises to be true to the classic LTO style. Indulge in some fabulous cocktails and feast on delectable bar snacks including sushi, dim sums and more and shop to your heart’s content.

From the truly useful, to the totally frivolous, completely quirky and quietly ingenious – it all comes alive at the Flea by Nite. Clothes, trinkets, jewellery, home and garden accessories, beauty products and much more — this flea market will be a combination of a party atmosphere and the irresistible opportunity to shop for affordable, unique items that one may not find otherwise.

Where LikeThatOnly, 14/31A- Hagadur Road, Whitefield
When 6pm onwards, on September 22
Call 65475610

It’s contemporary, folks
Nine events, 21 performances over the next three weekends — Bengaluru International Arts Festival 2013 begins today. This sixth edition kick-starts with some ecstatic contemporary and folk dance performances happening this weekend. This evening catch Three Lines — a contemporary dance by Preeti Sunderajan, followed by Seraikella Chhau dance by Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey.

Three lines by Preeti Sunderajan is an experimental work drawn from research done of Old Bangaloreans and their memories of the city, whereas Seraikella Chhau is a traditional dance drama form prevalent in Eastern India. And on Sunday, Sri Lankan Dance troupe led by Tilak Fernando will leave you awestruck with their performance. This will be followed by the Karnataka folk music and dance show.

Where & When NGMA, Palace Road, 5.30pm on September 20 and at Freedom Park, Sheshadri Road, 6.30pm onwards, on September 22
Call 9980327800

Funny games
Watch six comedians showcase their prowess, in rounds of current affairs, politics, on the spot humour, debate, rapid fire topics and dark humour. The Polished Bottoms along with bFlat is hosting The Comedy Games — India’s first ever comedy game show featuring Sal Yusuf, Praveen Kumar, Kenneth Sebastian, Sundeep Rao, Shyam Bhat and Kanan Gill. In this show, you will have a chance to list topics that the comics will have to make jokes on, while the other comics will try their very best to heckle and distract him or her.

Where BFlat, 100ft Road, HAL, Indiranagar
When 8.30pm onwards, this evening
Call 25278361

What’s your dating  scene like?
If your dating life is sadly non-existent, just like for the rest of us, you have an opportunity to stir up something interesting over the weekend with two distinct events that have been designed with one noble agenda: getting singles together.

Bond over books
If you are a bookworm who can talk reams about your favourite novels, then you should land up at the Singles Book Chat & Reading event that’s being organised by Marrygold, the boutique matchmakers. So, if you are anywhere between 27 -35 years, love books and more importantly, want to meet other equally crazy book lovers for conversations and (ahem) more, register for the event already.

Where Ants Store & Cafe
When September 22, 4pm -6pm
Register Only via marrygold.co@gmail.com. Participation fee Rs 550

Beautifully handcrafted stories
There’s something poetic about handcrafted things. One, there’s the technique to admire and then there’s the fact that the creation is truly one-in-a-million. If you are a lover of all things original and beautiful, then The Showcase exhibition being held in the city this weekend is worth a visit. Curated by Ahalya S, the exhibition is a showcase of some of the finest saris, jewellery and handloom products available in the country today.  The brands participating are quite popular in Chennai and include Sarangi— for contemporary Kanjeevarams; Paduka — for handwoven saris, stoles and blouse materials in silk and cotton; Babyrasa — jewellery for kids to teens; Sarasas — for oxidised silver jewellery and Rasvihar — fine handcrafted jewellery.

Where The Park Hotel, MG Road
When September 20, 21 and 22, 10am-8pm

Give love a second chance
That’s the idea behind dating community TwolyMadlyDeeply.com’s event for Saturday. Titled Blind Faith, it is meant exclusively for divorcees and the widowed. To make the whole ‘hello, how do you do’ scene easy, the organisers have planned a gourmet three-course meal for all the members. The twist in the tale however is that everyone is going to be experiencing the meal blindfolded.  If you’ve liked what you’ve read so far, fit the profile and want to give it a shot, don’t hesitate to sign up for it. 

Where Ibis Novotel, Outer Ring Road
When September 21, 6pm
Call 9980164585 or email hootout@twolymadlydeeply.com

Time to talk to her
A relaxed yet charged atmosphere, an informal setting and open and honest conversations — the first season of Conversations with Namu Kini comes to an end this evening. Presented by the Embassy Group, Conversations with Namu Kini is a monthly talk show for women where host, Namu Kini has a candid conversation with game-changing guest speakers to celebrate their life journey, personal and professional triumphs as well as their quest for success and fulfillment. This evening’s session of insightful, heart-to-heart exchange will happen with singer Usha Uthup, Archana Doshi, founder, Archana’s Kitchen and Shubhra Chadda, co-founder and COO, Chumbak.

Where Taj West End, Race Course Road
When 7pm onwards, this evening
For tickets Log on to ww.bookmyshow or call 8861064480

Don’t stop laughing
Get ready for a show featuring one of UK’s best comics who has taken up the responsibility to make you laugh through the evening. That’s Imran Yusuf we are referring to. Giving him company will be stand-up artistes Sundeep Rao, Kenny Sebastian and Praveen Kumar. For the last two and a half years, The Comedy Store has been your one way ticket to some rib-tickling laughs and it seems like they are continuing with the culture to spread laughter.

Where Hyatt, Swami Vivekananda Road, Ulsoor
When 7.30pm onwards, on September 22
For tickets Log on to www.bookmyshow.com

Bard for a change
This is a celebration of poetry, art and music to promote social, environmental and political change. Atta Galatta is hosting 100 Thousand Poets for Change where you can lend your voices and words to crucial issues such as women’s rights, poverty and education. Catch Shikha Malaviya, a poet, writer, teacher and founder of The (Great) Indian Poetry Project present her work. She gave a TEDx talk on poetry in Bangalore and has organised the 100 Thousand Poets for Change - Bangalore in the last two years. She is someone who believes in the transformative power of poetry, as a vehicle for raising social awareness and spurring change.

Where Atta Galatta, 134, KHB Colony, Koramangala
When 5pm onwards, on September 21
Call 41600677

Set the light
If you have mastered the basics of photography and the camera, here is a chance to delve further into the world of photography. Attend The Art of Lighting — indoor and outdoor fashion portraiture and learn the art of controlling light. This is a two-day photography workshop by Amulya Nagaraj.

Where & When Smriti Nandan, off Cunningham Road, on September 21 and at The Rasta Cafe, Mysore Road, on September 22, 11am to 2pm
Call 9972875644